Automatic latch grip



Sept. 23; 1952 L. F. METZGER AUTOMATIC LATCH GRIP Filed July 3, 1951 LEO E METZGER Pa tented Sept. 23, 1952 I AUTOMATIC LATCHGRIP i. Leo F. Metzger, Lakewood, Ohio Application July 3, 1951, Serial No. 225,038

Claims. (01. 292-218) (Granted under the act ofMarch S, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G; 757) The present invention relates generally to latches and in particular to a combination looking latch and handle for a top opening chest or tool box. 7

Tool boxes and chests commonly in use employ a variety of handles and latches, most of them having numerous parts and requiring many hand movements to align the latches, close them, erect the handles and secure the lock.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a handle for a tool box combining the latch and lock in few parts and requiring but few hand motions to secure the latch and make ready the handle for carrying the box in latched or locked condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch-handle combination for a tool box which automatically latches when the handles are moved to a carrying position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handle and latch combination having a lock to restrain either unlatching of the latch or movement of the handle from carrying position while in latched position.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout-the figures thereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a partion of a tool box having two hinged and abutting lids with this invention fixed thereon.

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the latch and handle of this invention.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the invention in latched position, and

Fig. 4 is an end view showing the latch and handle in unlatched position.

Referring in more particular to the drawing, the tool box lids H and I2 have abutting edges i3 and I4 and are here shown to be in one plane although it is to be understood that the lids may be angled to each other to suit any type of tool box. Handle I5 is constructed of an upper member is rigidly secured to lid H by rivets l1 and having an arcuate gripping portion l8. Pivotally secured to member [6 by pins I9 is latch member having a similar arcuate portion 2| which in latched position coacts with portion i8 to form a substantially cylindrical handle. Latch member 20 has inwardly turned latch lips 22 which engage with 2' I Y upwardly-bent lugs 23 whichfare portions of the latch plate 24 secured on lid [2 by rivets 25. A conventional type cam and pawl lock 26 has reciprocal tongues 27 which extend to positions behind the latch lips 22 to prevent their movement out of engagement with lugs 23 when locked.

In operation, one movement will bring the latch member 20 into position for carrying, the lips 22 engaging the lugs 23 to latch the lids II and i2 together against accidental falling open of the lids with the attendant loss or dean-angement of the tools. The lock may be used to secure the contents of the tool box against pilferage. The latch and handle mechanism thusly described may be easily constructed of sheet metal by either pressing operation or stamping and welding of the individual components used therein. It will be readily seen that the device is of simple and inexpensiveconstruction, may be readily fabricated and is of exceptional utility as a handle and latch combination speedily assembled and secured to any top lidded tool box or chest which is desired to be portable and hand carried.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. A handle and latch device for a top-opening container having at least a pair of abutting lids comprising a substantially U-shape'd first member secured by its leg end portions to one lid at the edge thereof, a second member similarly shaped but with inwardly turned leg end portions, said second member pivotally secured to said first member at approximately the midpoint of the leg portions of each member, said first and second members having matching arcuate sections constructed and arranged to form a handgrip, and latch means on the other lid of the container adjacent the edge thereof engageablewiththe inwardly turned leg end portions of said second member.

2. A combination handle and latching device for joining two rigid plates having abutting edges comprising a, substantially U-shaped first memher having flanges on the legs thereof secured to one of said rigid plates adjacent the edge, a second U-shaped member pivotally secured in nested position within said first member, said first and second members having matching semicylindrical mid-portions coacting in latched position to providea cylindrical handgrip and hook means secured to the other plate at the edge thereof to receive the leg portions of said second member when and while said members are in latched position.

3. A combination handle and latch device for securing together abutting edges of two lids of a tool box or the like comprising a first handle portion having two curved legs secured by flanged ends to one of the lids at the edge thereof, said first handle being axially parallel to and posttioned substantially vertically over said abutting edges, a second handle portion'pivotally secured to said first portion, hook means on the other 20 of said lids at the edge thereof, and hook-engaging means on saidsecond handle portion con-- structed and arranged to releasably secure said hook means.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3 in which said second handle portion has similarly shaped curved legs with the ends thereof bent to approximately parallel the plane of said lids and constituting said hook engaging means.

5. The device as set forth in claim 4 in which said hook means on the other of said lids is a plate with backwardly bent tab portions adjacent the edge of the lid and having its hook opening substantially tangential to the arcuate movement The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 288,351 Loew Nov. 13, 1883 884,787 Woolfenden ;Apr. 1.4, .1908 

